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Illinois basketball: Top 3 Illini centers in the history of the program

By Jalen Wilson

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dunks in the first half against Robbie Beran #31 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 27, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dunks in the first half against Robbie Beran #31 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 27, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) walks across the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

#3 – Kofi Cockburn

I know some will disagree with me on this because Kofi Cockburn has only played a year so far at Illinois. But due to the lack of talent at the center position, I think Kofi sneaks in at No. 3 on this list.

Despite his freshman season just ending, Kofi put up 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He shot 53-percent from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53-percent as well. He also had a true shooting percentage of 57-percent.

Kofi accomplished a lot for a freshman. He won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. He also made the All-Big Ten freshman first-team, and he set the rebounding record for an Illini freshman in a game with 18 rebounds.

Another big reason I have Kofi on this list is because of his impact. The season before he arrived in Champaign, Illinois was just 12-21. The season after Kofi got there Illinois improved to 21-10. While this improvement wasn’t all due to him suiting up for the Illini, he was still a big reason for the success.

It’s unclear whether Kofi will continue to build on his resume at Illinois. He was dominating in the first year with the program. Even though he has only one year under his belt, I still think Kofi belongs in the top three.

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